Trending on Recent OpenTable Restaurant Reviews: Irish Fare

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Even though it’s only March 17th one day a year, diners have been celebrating this fun holiday for several weeks. After all, who doesn’t want to repeatedly observe the holiday that encourages you to drink a Guinness? While everyone knows that corned beef and cabbage aren’t authentic Irish cuisine, they’ve certainly become synonymous with Irish-American fare every March. Find out what diners are saying about the Irish food, authentic and otherwise, and St. Patty’s Day fun they’ve been enjoying in the last few weeks in recent restaurant reviews.

* Conor O’Neills, Ann Arbor, Michigan: “We met family from out of town at Conor’s after Shamrocks and Shenanigans. It was festive, fun, and, overall, a great place to enjoy food, Guinness, Irish dancing, and good times with friends and family. It continues to be my favorite neighborhood pub!”

* Fado Irish Pub and Restaurant, Austin, Texas: “Authentic, made in Ireland décor. There is nothing on the menu that isn’t great, but the lamb is the best of all! Extensive beer and Irish Whiskey list, choices I didn’t know existed. Great for gathering with friends, watching sports, and St. Patrick’s celebrations are second to none!”

* Great Street, Chicago, Illinois: “Booked with Open Table four days before the event, requesting a window seat. The seating area has huge windows facing the Chicago river. I booked for 10AM and then also called the manager saying, “We NEED” a window table.” Arrived 45 min before the event, watching the Chicago River turn green at 9:30AM. It was like having a warm box seat for the event while thousands stood 4 deep on the bridges in the cold. So fun! Did have to wait about 15 minutes for a table to clear….then got the best in the house by 9:45. I thank Open Table and staff at Great Street for giving us such a memorable (and tasty) mid-morning experience on St Patrick’s!”

* James Joyce Irish Pub & Restaurant, Baltimore, MD: “The menu had all the Irish traditional foods plus something to satisfy the taste of everyone who might choose to dine at James Joyce. The entire staff was warm and friendly, and the atmosphere was ebullient. We dined here based on other Open Table reviews and it was a fantastic choice. We will definitely come here again when we are in the area.”

* Katie Mullen’s Irish Restaurant, Denver, Colorado: “The best Irish restaurant in Denver. My wife and I both LOVE this place and try to make a point to come back as often as possible. The first time we went I made an online reservation and in the Special Request section, I asked them to leave a special love note from me to my wife and they did just that. Made my wife’s night!”

* Mrs. Murphy and Sons Irish Bistro, Chicago, Illinois: “My friends and I were looking for a fun place to go for St. Patrick’s Day that would have good food and a festive atmosphere without being too annoying, and Mrs. Murphy’s was the perfect choice! All of the staff I dealt with were cheerful and courteous, the food was delicious, and we even had Irish dancers as entertainment! It was a lovely afternoon, and I look forward to coming back soon.”

* O’Reilly’s Bar and Kitchen, New York, New York: “The food was very good and the seating upstairs was quiet. The decor looks like what you would find in Ireland. Even the waitress was Irish. Plenty of room for seating, which made the experience even more comfortable. Overall a great experience.”

* The Plough and the Stars, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: “We expect pretty food comfort food at an Irish bar, but this exceeds expectation. The tomato soup is the best I have had, and the dinners are amazing — Guinness roast with potatoes and braised chicken — outstanding. An Irish band sits at a table and plays which is great without being so loud you cannot have a conversation. The building is an old bank, so high ceilings and a great Old Philadelphia look with an Irish flare.”

* Raglan Road Irish Pub, Lake Buena Vista, Florida: “This was my first time at Raglan Road. I enjoyed the experience thoroughly. The food was delicious, the service outstanding as was the entertainment, especially the Irish dancers. Being of Irish descent and going there to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, this was a truly wonderful and meaningful experience. Thank you for making my St. Patrick’s Day unforgettable.”

Events

Caroline Potter

Caroline Potter is the Chief Dining Officer for OpenTable, Inc. She’s a dining trend-spotter and an OpenTable VIP, who dines out more than she eats in and has accrued more than 10,000 Dining Rewards points. Caroline started working in restaurants as a teen and she's since tackled every front-of-the-house job, from bartender and hostess to runner and server. She trained as a chef at Manhattan’s prestigious French Culinary Institute, cooking at L’Ecole. In addition to her role at OpenTable, she has written about food from farm to table for New York City’s famed Greenmarket and Edible Brooklyn and Edible East End magazines. Caroline is also a Certified Master Gardener.